No one keeps better track of all hits and errors at the ballpark than Kayla Newman. Only she's watching what goes on at the concession stands.
"I'm looking at the food," said the executive chef for Levy Restaurants, the company that operates concessions at Huntington Park for the Columbus Clippers. "How long did it take? How does it taste? How does it look?"
Like her counterparts at Nationwide Arena and Lower.com Field, Newman works to strike a balance at her venue between traditionalists who want nothing more than a hot dog and a beer, and the fans/foodies who expect a ballpark-dining experience.
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But with food written into baseball's anthem − 'Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack' − perhaps no one is under more pressure to deliver the best of both.
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"I don't care if it's a hot dog, it should still be beautiful," said Newman, a Columbus native who began her culinary career as a teen pizza-maker at Magic Mountain. "You can be at a sports event, but you can feel like you're at a sit-down restaurant."
The Clippers play the Omaha Storm Chasers at home all weekend: Friday at 6:15 p.m., Saturday at 2:05 p.m. and Sunday at 1:05 p.m. Huntington Park concession stands are to have all the items baseball purists expect, but here are some of the heavy-hitters added to Newman's lineup this season.
Taco meatloaf
Meatloaf sandwiches have been a popular item on the Huntington Park menu (and still available on the third-base side of the ballpark), but Newman said she wanted to take it to the next level with a full taco-meatloaf entrée. It is to be sold at the Hall of Fame Bar, which is on the second floor of the building, beyond left field.
Tex-Mex flavors are baked into the hefty block of meatloaf and also part of its toppings: pico de gallo, avocado cream, sour cream and melted cheddar. The dish is served on top of jalapeno-cheddar mashed potatoes.
Bang bang shrimp
Like no-hitters and triple plays, shrimp isn't something you see often at a baseball game.
"It's so much beef and pork, but some people are pescatarians," Newman said. "Now, they have an option."
That option is bang bang shrimp, which also is to be available at the Hall of Fame Bar, which is open to all ticket-holders. The generous portion of shrimp is lightly breaded and drenched in a sauce of mayo, sweet chili and Sriracha.
It's comfortably spicy and unlike anything else on the menu this season.
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Tater kegs
Tater tots the size C batteries? Yes, please.
Tater kegs aren't pure potato, though. They're twice-baked potatoes in tot form, crunchy on the outside, but mashed-potatoey on the inside. These tots are softer than their famous cousins, but tastier, too. There's cheddar cheese, bacon bits and chive inside, plus sour cream on top.
You can get them at the Hall of Fame Bar.
Boneless pork chop sandwich
If you like pork − and aren't scared off by chicken nuggets − this is a sandwich for you. The boneless pork chop sandwich is a grilled patty made with ground, processed pork that's formed into a pork-chop shape. It's grilled and served on a burger bun.
It's way better than that description. Honest.
Chicken and waffles
The sweet and salty pub-food staple is now available at Huntington Park. The Clippers' concession version uses crispy, fried bone-in chicken wings.
Fried-chicken sandwiches
Ballpark fried-chicken sandwiches have received a makeover this season. Think less McChicken and more KFC; it's made with fried boneless chicken breast that's breaded instead of battered and served in plain or spicy versions.
Mason Jar churro sundae
To an ice-cream lineup that includes Graeter's, soft-serve custard and Dippin' Dots comes an over-the-top sundae of vanilla soft-serve, chocolate sauce, whipped cream and an oversized churro.
It comes in a 24-ounce Clippers-branded Mason jar and is big enough to feed the entire infield. Get extra spoons.
And to wash it all down...
Mom Water, Dad Water, hard iced teas and hard seltzers are to be available this season throughout Huntington Park, in addition to beer, canned wine and mixed drinks. Margaritas are to be on special for Thursday games, and specialty co*cktails are to be available other days.
There's plenty of pop, bottled water, Gatorade, juice boxes and coffee, too.
rvitale@dispatch.com
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